Vehicle passenger safety method and air bag module for the imple

Details Vehicle passenger safety method and air bag module for the imple Vehicle passenger safety method and air bag module for the imple

1999-04-01

2000-09-19

Dickson, Paul N.

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

280742, 280750, B60R 2116

Patent

active

061200573

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an airbag module.
In a position where a passenger is very close to the cover of the gas bag of an airbag module, which is also called the out off position (Oop), the opening airbag cap and the unfolding gas bag can cause considerable injury to the passenger. The passenger is struck in this position by the unfolding gas bag while in the normal sitting position he only contacts the gas bag after the bag has unfolded. A particularly dangerous situation then arises for the passenger if prior to the unfolding of the gas bag he is resting very close to the airbag module or if he is resting with his head or chest on the gas bag cover. On the passenger side there are additional dangers if the passenger is sitting in the wrong position relative to the airbag module.
In order to reduce these dangers, airbag modules are already known wherein at least one component part is pushed away from the passenger as the gas bag unfolds. Thus a gas bag system is known for vehicles from DE 44 30 588 C1 wherein the gas bag system is fixed on the motor vehicle so that it can be moved away at least in part from the vehicle passenger. The reaction forces which occur during the airbag function are used to move away the airbag module. The gas bag system is thereby fixed on elements which can be three-dimensionally or elastically deformed through the action of the gases which are formed. With this gas bag system the gas bag cover is also moved away from the passenger together with the remaining structural groups, such as gas generator, diffuser and gas bag.
With this arrangement the gas bag system is to be moved away from the passenger before the gas bag unfolds and the gas bag cover opens. However it cannot be ruled out that the unfolding process of the gas bag continues before the end of the moving process so that the gas bag cover opens before the minimum required distance has been reached between the folded gas bag and passenger.
The object of the invention is therefore to reduce the risk of danger for the passenger through an airbag unit.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With a method for securing a vehicle passenger where in the event of a crash a gas bag of an airbag module is inflated between the passenger and vehicle parts, it is proposed, according to the invention, that prior to the inflation of the gas bag at least the gas bag cover is moved away from the passenger. In a preferred embodiment it is proposed that, as well as the gas bag cover, the gas bag and a diffuser, located between an inflation device and gas bag, are moved away from the passenger. The movement away from the passenger can be accomplished by sliding, turning or tilting action. According to the present invention, prior to the opening of the gas bag, a gap is formed between the displaced gas bag cover and the adjoining fixed vehicle parts in which the gas bag can unfold freely after the gas bag cover is ripped open. The gas bag first unfolds sideways and only then towards the passenger. Furthermore, there is the advantage that owing to the greater distance of the gas bag cover from the passenger prior to the unfolding of the gas bag, the risk of injury through the opening gas bag cover is reduced particularly in the Oop case.
An airbag module with an inflation device, a diffuser, a gas bag and a gas bag cover is characterized according to the invention in that the diffuser, the gas bag and the gas bag cover can be moved away from the passenger out from a rest position and that the exit path of the compressed gases of the inflation device into the gas bag is only released after the said structural groups have moved into a predetermined position.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inflation device is formed with the diffuser as a piston cylinder unit in the manner of a pneumatic differential cylinder wherein the diffuser can be moved together with the gas bag and gas bag cover away from the passenger as a cylinder under the influence of the gas streaming out of the inflation device and the o

REFERENCES:
patent: 5234229 (1993-08-01), Gordon
patent: 5383682 (1995-01-01), Nagata et al.
patent: 5826901 (1998-10-01), Adomeit

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